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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: KOCH LORBER FILMS
Salesrank: 36905
Released: February 8, 2005 |
| Our Price: $41.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A once-promising runner who was unfairly banned from amateur competition twenty years ago sets out to recapture his lost glory and begins to train for one of the toughest races in America, the Cielo Sea.
On the Edge Reviews:
OK Running Movie on a Real Running Course! 
2008-04-28 - This review is from; On the Edge
As a marathon & ultra-marathoner myself, I was pleasantly surprised to find a film that was filmed on a actual race course called "The Dipsea" (called the "Cielo Sea" in the film). I actually ran that course in 2000. Since 1905, the Dipsea race is the second oldest running race in the country (after the Boston Marathon).
The "Dipsea" race course is located along the coast & hills of Marin County which is just north of San Francisco. In the film you get some nice visual images on how tough the course is, but statistically the 7.1 mile course features 9,200 feet of climbing, 671 steps of stairs and the infamous "cardiac hill" at 1,360 feet (which is mentioned in the film). The "Dipsea" course I ran in 2000, was the "quadruple" version (28.4 miles!). Since I ran that course four times in one day, I got a true first hand perspective on how tough that course really was and it was much tougher than what the film could show!
The film features a runner named Wes Holman (played by Bruce Dern who is actuallly a runner himself) who is a 44 year old runner that has been banned from the sport due to a technicality of unfair circumstances, but he yearns to compete again after a 20 year absence from running competitively. Wes goes through a "Rocky-like" montage of training to get in shape for the next "Cielo Sea" race. Wes enters the race as an unregistered runner after all of the registered runners have already started. As he quickly begins to pass many runners from his dead-last start, race officials recognize the banned runner and make some attempts to remove him from the race, but they are unsuccessful largely in part to the protection provided by the other runners that are running near him.
Although the images from this film are somewhat grainy or blurry, keep in mind that this is a vintage film from the 80's. The image quality of the film has a documentary, visual quality to it. Not perfect, but watchable. The film also has a quirky soundtrack filled with electronic beeps & synthesizers like a bad science fiction soundtrack that you would hear from "Dr Who" or "Space 1999". The DVD also has informative interviews with director Robert Nillson (who is a runner himself) as well as interviews with Bruce Dern (from 1986) and some "Dipsea" runners (from 1986). The film's theaterical trailer is also included.
I heard the movie originally had scenes with Pam Grier as the love interest for Bruce Dern, but unfortunately they are not included on this DVD. I heard the VHS copy of this movie has the original Pam Grier scenes included. Although it was omitted, I think it would have been nice if the DVD would at least included the Pam Grier scenes in a deleted scene section. Having not seen the original version, I'm not sure what impact the lovely miss Grier would have add or subtract from the film, but the DVD's edited version is satisfactory to me. Serious runners may have an interesting time watching this one, while it may be of only of modest interest to casual viewers.
Sadly disappointed 
2007-08-29 - First, service was great! Quick delivery. Courteous, etc.
The product was like a nightmare. The first one sent was like a bootleg copy or something, the movie was all there, just couldn't see it. It was 100% shadow, black, dark, could not see 90% of the scenes. The original is not like this-I have a VHS copy, crisp, clear, bright-I just wanted a DVD of the same movie.
The second copy was a little lighter, viewable, so I just gave up, I kept it because I like the movie. But the quality of this copy is not professional and should not be sold to anyone. Whomever did the copy job should be sent to a lonely, dark island somewhere, forever.
Why No Pamala?
2007-04-04 - Well, during a viewing of the outtake of Bruce and Pam's REAL SEX scenes, the major producer died of a heart attack! It could be that the next-of- kin blamed Oh So HOT Pamala for their relatives demise! I'm the guy at the end of the movie, the "Town Thug", who steals the timeclock and throws it in the ocean. I then raise my arms in victory as The End appears and fades to black. I want this scene to be played at my funeral! The chopped-up rest of the movie sucks, though. The death of the producer really caused serious production problems. It could have been a good movie, otherwise. Pam, you're to die for!
Where is Pam Grier and why is she gone? 
2006-02-24 - I have been a distance runner for over 20 years, and have run countless marathons and other races, so I enjoy a good running movie. When I first saw this movie, 20 years ago, I thought it was great. It focused not only on the training and the sacrifices we go through to achieve our goals, but on how it affects other aspects of our lives. It takes a toll on the close relationships we have. It's hard for the ones we love to understand the sacrifices we make for that elusive mistress, the marathon. This movie in its original form explored those issues. What they have now is closer to a documentary, than trying to get to the Soul of running. Why did they have to screw up a good movie. Besides, Pam Grier is beautiful in the original version. Find an old VHS copy with Pam Grier and see the difference.
Amazing film...even the edited version... 
2005-12-05 - I would contend that the first review on this page misses the boat. This new version is re-edited, but NOT for the reasons mentioned. I can guarantee you that the excising of Pam Greir's character from the film had nothing to do with the provocative nature of an interracial relationship. If they were willing to have Bruce Dern sleep with Pam Greir in 1985 (he's a lucky guy btw), then in today's far more open world, it would certainly not be an issue. Her character was removed from the film for one simple, obvious reason...There was no reason for her to be in the movie. Even back when I was young and watched this film, I always thought to myself, "Pam Greir is HOT, but why is she in this movie? She's a completely pointless character that offers NOTHING to the story?" Thankfully, they have removed her, which only makes this even more of a running movie, which I like. The DVD is grainy, and the audio wasn't synched well with the video, but this is an incredible movie made by runners, for runners. God, what a movie....
